Labour Court Database __________________________________________________________________________________ File Number: CD94270 Case Number: LCR14464 Section / Act: S26(1) Parties: IRISH RAIL - and - TRANSPORT SALARIED STAFFS' ASSOCIATION |
Dispute concerning the utilisation of surplus supervisory staff as summer relief workers in booking offices.
Recommendation:
The Court has noted the commitments given by the Company that
earnings of the clerical staff concerned will not be adversely
affected and that the supervisors concerned will return to their
own duties in September.
In view of the above and given the financial constraints on the
Company and the need to ensure work is carried out in the most
efficient and cost effective manner if the Company is to be viable
and the employment maintained and secured, the Court recommends
that the Company proposal be implemented.
Division: MrMcGrath Mr Keogh Mr Rorke
Text of Document__________________________________________________________________
CD94270 RECOMMENDATION NO. LCR14464
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTS, 1946 TO 1990
SECTION 26(1), INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT, 1990
PARTIES:
IRISH RAIL
AND
TRANSPORT SALARIED STAFFS' ASSOCIATION
SUBJECT:
1. Dispute concerning the utilisation of surplus supervisory
staff as summer relief workers in booking offices.
BACKGROUND:
2. The Company proposes to deploy surplus workshop supervisors
as summer relief staff in booking offices. Previously the
Company had taken on extra temporary staff to undertake these
duties. The Association has rejected the Company's proposal.
The dispute was referred to the Labour Relations Commission
and a conciliation conference was held on the 3rd May, 1994.
As no agreement could be reached the dispute was referred to
the Labour Court on the 6th May, 1994. A Court hearing was
held on the 24th May, 1994.
ASSOCIATION'S ARGUMENTS:
3. 1. Management's proposals would undermine the status of
clerical positions within the Company through a steady
encroachment by other grades into the traditional areas
of clerical work. The Workshop Supervisors Productivity
Agreement does not cover redeployment of supervisors
into the clerical area.
2. The Association has no objection to temporary clerical
staff being employed on temporary contracts during the
peak summer period. They are paid a lower rate and are
supervised by booking office staff.
3. It is not feasible to have supervisors doing temporary
clerical work. Booking office staff would in effect
supervise supervisors while still shouldering the heavy
workload while supervisors receive a higher rate of
pay.
COMPANY'S ARGUMENTS:
4. 1. The supervisors will receive comprehensive training in
booking office duties. The Company's policy in dealing
with supervisory staff has been accepted by the Unions.
Redeployment is an integral part of and is provided for
in the Workshop Supervisors Productivity Agreement.
2. There will be no loss of normal earnings to existing
booking office staff as a result of the deployment of
supervisors.
3. The proposed arrangements do not differ in practical
terms from previous arrangements which have involved the
external recruitment of temporary workers at additional
cost to the Company. At the present time the Company is
operating under severe financial constraints.
4. The redeployment of the supervisors is a temporary
arrangement, they will revert to their normal work
location on completion of the relief.
RECOMMENDATION:
The Court has noted the commitments given by the Company that
earnings of the clerical staff concerned will not be adversely
affected and that the supervisors concerned will return to their
own duties in September.
In view of the above and given the financial constraints on the
Company and the need to ensure work is carried out in the most
efficient and cost effective manner if the Company is to be viable
and the employment maintained and secured, the Court recommends
that the Company proposal be implemented.
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Signed on behalf of the Labour Court
8th June, 1994 Tom McGrath
T.O.D./M.M. _______________
Deputy Chairman
Note
Enquiries concerning this Recommendation should be addressed to
Mr. Tom O'Dea, Court Secretary.